THE LAWYER. Yes, but only one. It consists in doing your duty at once——
THE DAUGHTER. You look like a demon when you speak that word duty—And when, as in my case, there are two duties to be met?
THE LAWYER. Meet one first, and then the other.
THE DAUGHTER. The highest first—therefore, you look after my child, and I shall do my duty——
THE LAWYER. Your child suffers because it misses you—can you bear to know that a human being is suffering for your sake?
THE DAUGHTER. Now strife has entered my soul—it is rent in two, and the halves are being pulled in opposite directions!
THE LAWYER. Such, you know, are life's little discords.
THE DAUGHTER. Oh, how it is pulling!
THE POET. If you could only know how I have spread sorrow and ruin around me by the exercise of my calling—and note that I say calling, which carries with it the highest duty of all—then you would not even touch my hand.
THE DAUGHTER. What do you mean?